WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Boeing's ( BA ) head of

government affairs and top lobbyist is leaving effective

immediately, the planemaker's CEO told employees in an email

Friday.

Ziad Ojakli, who took over as head of Boeing ( BA )

government operations in September 2021 and previously headed

Ford Motor and Softbank government affairs offices, is stepping

down and will be replaced on an interim basis by Bill McSherry,

who oversees the planemaker's state and local government

operations, Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an email.

Boeing ( BA ) has faced a difficult year after a door plug missing

four key bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9

jets at 16,000 feet in January.